Lower artificial denture



April 21, 1925.

F. E. MILNER LOWER ARTIFICIAL DENTURE Filed Oct. 2, 1923 Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOWER ARTIFICIAL DENTURE.

Application filed October 2, 1923. Serial No. 666,067.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED EwAR'r MILNER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Blackpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Lower Artificial Dentures, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in or relating to lower artificial dentures.

It is well known that much difficulty is generally experienced in retaining lower artificial dentures in place and there is considerable danger that when the wearer is asleep the lower denture will leave its proper place in the mouth and pass into the throat and choke the sleeper.

The difliculty is frequently overcome by means of bands or wires which encircle adjacent teeth but this method is objectionable in that the wires or bands out or wear the teeth which they encircle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lower artificial denture, especially a full lower denture, with means whereby it will be efiiciently retained in the mouth of the wearer even though the muscles be relaxed during sleep.

For the purpose of this invention a frame is employed extending exteriorly and posteriorly of the artificial gum and said frame may conveniently consist of one or more wires but preferably one wire which is bent approximately into a V shape and the bend of the V is embedded in the vulcanite of the denture near to the centre thereof whilst the free ends of said wire or bend are embedded in the vulcanite of the denture at or adjacent the ends thereof, the limbs of the V being suitably curved or shaped in such manner that the frame lies comfortably upon or near the floor of the mouth beneath the tongue and allows the perfec reedom of the muscle controlling the tongue, which latter has perfect control over the denture by virtue of its being able to rest upon the frame above described whilst the denture is not disturbed whether the tongue is at rest or in action. 1

And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readil carried into effect it Will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which Figure l is a plan of a lower artificial denture constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 illustrates a plan and end elevation of the frame, and

Figure 4 illustrates a plan and end elevation of a modification thereof.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of said drawings-1 represents the artificial gum of the denture having teeth 2 set therein, said gum 1 may be constructed of vulcanite or any other suitable material.

Embedded in said gum 1 is a metal wire band or frame 3, said metal frame 3 is formed approximately V-shaped as shown, the bend of the V being embedded in or attached to the gum l of the denture near to the centre thereof at 4, the bend of the V having an attachment 4* for the purpose of retaining the frame or wire 3 in the artificial gum, whilst the ends of the wire 3 are embedded in or attached to the gum 1 at or adjacent the ends thereof as shown at 5, and the limbs 3 of the V'shaped wire 3 are curved or shaped in such manner that the frame or wire 3 lies upon the fioor of the mouth beneath the tongue.

Said frame 3 may be made of vulcanite or metal or metal covered with vuleanite or of any suitable substances not detrimental to the mouth and instead of being formed of one wire, band or frame it may be constructed of two or more than two such wires, bands or frames of any suitable formation whilst the frame 3 may be equally well applied to metal dentures and may be fixed in position by soldering, welding or otherwise.

In Figure 3 the limbs 3 are shown suitably shaped for embedding in the gum 1 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 whilst Figure 4 illustrates a frame 3 having limbs 3 adapted to be pinned or afiixed to the inner wall of the gum 1.

By the means hereinbefore described a lower artificial denture will be firmly retained in its proper place in the mouth by the pressure exerted upon the frame by the muscles and tissues on the interior surface of the tongue thus tending to hold the denture rigid to some extent at all times but especially during the act of mastication when the tongue sinks to a considerable extent whilst the biting capacity of the wearer is considerably improved.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A lower artificial denture, comprising an artificial gum, and a wire frame secured therein, said wire frame co-operating with the muscles and tissues of the tongue to re tain the denture in the mouth.

2. A" lower artificial denture, comprising an artificial gum, and a wire frame secured therein, said wire frame co-operating with the" muscles and tissues of the tongue to retain the denture in the mouth, the ends of said frame being imbedded in the gum.

3. A lower artificial denture, comprising an artificial gum, and a wire frame secured therein to retain the denture in the mouth, the ends and center portion of said frame being imbedded in the gum.

4;. A lower artificial denture, comprising an artificial gum, and a substantially V- shaped Wire frame secured therein, said wire frame co-operating with the muscles and tissues of the tongue to retain the denture in the mouth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED EVVART MILNER. 

